September 2020 THE CHARBONNEAU VILLAGER 9
SpringRidge at
Charbonneau
By KERRY PHILLIPS
The “power of we”
at SpringRidge
at Charbonneau
COURTESY PHOTO
SpringRidge resident Veralyn’s hand-painted
silk scarf was part of the community’s
multimedia exhibit.
Despite these uncertain
times, residents and staff
at SpringRidge at Charbonneau
are coming together
— while social distancing —
to discover each other’s passions,
interests and hobbies. The spirit of
teamwork and togetherness is evidenced
in every aspect of life at
the active retirement community
and the “Power of We” continues
to fuel friendship and camaraderie.
During SpringRidge’s recent multimedia
exhibit, for example, Veralyn
Klosterman became more than the
passionate resident who has spent
decades supporting the nonprofit organization
Medical Teams International...
she was an artist extraordinaire.
And Zest Director Cindy Foster,
responsible for appealing to residents’
mind, body and soul, shared a
side many were unfamiliar with...
budding poet laureate!
The exhibit was a platform to
showcase residents’ and staff’s entries
which represent the community’s
togetherness, resilience and continued
overcoming. The goal was to
foster friendships and a deeper appreciation
for art. Submissions ran
the gamut and included everything
from crafts to artwork and poetry.
Social distancing allowed Veralyn
plenty of time to complete her submission:
a lovely hand-painted silk
scarf. She solicited the help of SpringRidge’s
Maintenance Director Troy
Pruitt to help complete the project.
He built a working wooden frame for
the scarf, enabling Veralyn to stretch
the fabric to color the intricate floral
designs. She worked closely with
Cindy to create the perfect caption
for the piece: Dancing together on
silk.
Cindy, who has worked at Spring-
Ridge for 12 years, says while the
charm of the community has always
been its friendliness, the current circumstances
have deepened bonds
and reinforced connections.
“The ‘Power of We’ is demonstrated
on the SpringRidge campus daily,”
she said. “It’s shown in a friendly
smile or an inside joke. It’s reflected
in how we treat, honor and respect
each other as well.”
It was this synergy that inspired
her to write the poem, “Making Lemonade.”
She writes, “We see light, in
friendships, shared experiences, understanding...
looking for happiness
in sharing, laughter, sunshine, walks,
nature, song and even treats.”
Both Veralyn’s and Cindy’s work
were part of the exhibit which was
on display throughout August. Residents
and staff alike were wowed by
the talents of their peers and inspired
by the submissions.
“Though residents are social distancing,
they truly aren’t alone.
There is an entire team dedicated to
ensuring their safety and wellness,”
said Cindy. “It’s been all hands on
deck — with staff, residents and
their families coming together as one
big extended family to support and
lift each other.”
To learn more about SpringRidge
at Charbonneau, please call 503-446-
6250 or visit www.Spring-
RidgeatCharbonneau.com.
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